Methods and systems for providing contextual information on communication devices and services
Methods and systems for providing contextual information regarding communication devices and/or services. Profile information relating to a user is stored by a communications manager. Data about a communication for the user may be received from a telecommunications manager in a telecommunications network or from a gateway in a data network. A comparison is made between the profile information and the data about the communication. Based on the comparison, contextual information relating to the communication is presented. The contextual information may be presented while the user participates in the communication. The contextual information may relate to a communication device and/or service used in the communication. The contextual information may relate to a discrepancy between the profile information relating to the user and the originating communication device and/or service. Further, the contextual information may be obtained from a telecom manager in a telecommunications network or from a gateway in a data network.
1. A system for providing a recipient with contextual information relating to a call, comprising:
a processor;
memory; and
a customer and information resource manager stored in the memory, the customer and information resource manager centralizing communications activities and information so that when executed the customer and information resource manager causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
store profile information describing the recipient, the profile information comprising a list of communications devices used by the recipient, communications services used by the recipient, a service provider of each communications service, communicating partners of the recipient, and service providers used by the recipient;
display an information brief that presents customized information that greets the recipient and identifies others who are authorized to access the profile information;
access a database storing information on new wireless users and, when a calling name is present in the database, obtain a mobile phone number from the database that is associated with the calling name;
display a message center that provides a communication template for a preferred mode of communication;
display a message log that provides summaries of new and sent communications and an activity log that tracks communications activity of the recipient;
display a calendar and scheduler allowing the recipient to establish notifications regarding an electronic calendar;
receive the call at a recipient's communications device;
receive data describing an originating device that originated the call;
compare the data describing the originating device to the profile information of the recipient;
determine from the comparison that the originating device is a wireless unit and that the recipient of the call lacks the wireless unit;
retrieve advertising information as the contextual information;
retrieve a voice message describing wireless devices;
present an audible signal during the call that indicates the advertising information is available;
receive a response to the audible signal from the recipient to save the advertising information for later review;
present a list of options for saving the advertising information for the later review;
receive another response to play the advertising information at the end of the call;
receive a hook-flash from the recipient to obtain the advertising information; and
after the hook-flash, present the voice message describing wireless services available to the recipient.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the code further causes the processor to determine an alternative communications path between the recipient and an originating party.
3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the customer and information resource manager further causes the processor to describe an alternative communication path between the recipient and an originating party.
4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the customer and information resource manager further causes the processor to present a list of options to format the contextual information.
5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the customer and information resource manager further causes the processor to query for the contextual information.
6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the customer and information resource manager further causes the processor to receive a manufacturer of the originating device and an operational protocol of the originating device.
7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the customer and information resource manager further causes the processor to receive a type of the originating device.
8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the customer and information resource manager further causes the processor to query a telecom manager in a telecommunications network.
9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the customer and information resource manager further causes the processor to query a gateway in a data network.
10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the customer and information resource manager further causes the processor to save the contextual information for later review.